8 Best GoTo Telescopes (November 2026)
The best best GoTo telescopes include the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope for Deep-Sky Beginners for learning manual tracking, the Hawkko 90mm Aperture 900mm Telescope for Adults for a portable manual setup, and the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope for automated deep-sky imaging.
On this page (4 sections)
The best GoTo telescopes make finding targets easier through motorized pointing or app-guided help. The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro and DWARFLAB Dwarf Mini offer automatic GoTo for imaging, while the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ guides manual aiming through a phone.
GoTo can mean different things across telescope types. Some scopes move under motor power after you select a target, while phone-guided models show you where to point without moving the telescope for you.
Use this list to match the control style to your observing goals. If you want visual views through an eyepiece, look for a traditional telescope with target guidance; if you want the scope to capture and process images, consider a smart model.
Our picks at a glance
-
1
Best for learning manual trackingCelestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope for Deep-Sky Beginners
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for a portable manual setupHawkko 90mm Aperture 900mm Telescope for Adults
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for automated deep-sky imagingZWO Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon
- 4
Best for a simple travel scopeCheck it - 5
Check itCelestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone
Best for phone-guided visual observing - 6
Best for a larger manual reflectorCheck it - 7
Check itKoolpte Telescope for Adults & Beginner Astronomers
Best for phone-assisted snapshots - 8
Check itDWARFLAB Dwarf Mini Smart Telescope
Best for lightweight automated imaging
Which GoTo telescopes suit each observing style?
The best GoTo telescope for you depends on whether you want automatic imaging, phone-guided visual observing, or a manual telescope that teaches you to aim. The picks below are ordered by score, with each product's control style stated plainly.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope for Deep-Sky Beginners: Best for learning manual tracking
- 130mm Newtonian reflector
- German equatorial mount
- Slow-motion control knobs
- 20mm and 10mm eyepieces
A traditional telescope for buyers who want to learn manual aiming and tracking. Its slow-motion controls help center and follow targets, but it does not offer automatic GoTo.
Pros
- 130mm aperture
- Slow-motion controls
- Includes two eyepieces
Cons
- Manual target finding
- Equatorial mount has a learning curve
The AstroMaster 130EQ is a traditional reflector for someone who wants to learn the sky and practice tracking by hand. Its 130mm mirror gathers light for viewing celestial objects, while the German equatorial mount uses slow-motion knobs for right ascension and declination adjustments.
It is not a GoTo telescope. You locate the object yourself, then use the controls to center it and follow its apparent movement across the sky.
The included 20mm and 10mm eyepieces give you two starting magnifications, and the StarPointer red dot finder helps with aiming. Choose this model if learning a manual routine is part of the appeal, rather than something you want automated.
Hawkko 90mm Aperture 900mm Telescope for Adults: Best for a portable manual setup
- 90mm refractor
- Altazimuth mount
- Smartphone adapter
- Carry bag
A manual refractor with a phone adapter and carry bag for buyers who value portability. It does not automatically find targets, so plan to aim it yourself.
Pros
- 90mm aperture
- Adjustable altazimuth tripod
- Phone adapter and carry bag
Cons
- Manual target finding
- No automated tracking
Hawkko's 90mm refractor is a portable manual option with an altazimuth mount, phone adapter and carry bag. Those accessories can help you transport the setup and take phone images, but the scope does not automatically find or follow targets.
The 900mm focal length and 90mm aperture give this model a different optical setup from the compact 70mm travel scopes. Its kit also includes 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, a 3x Barlow lens and a finder scope.
Choose it if you want a conventional telescope with phone capture accessories and simple up-down, left-right movement. If you specifically want a computer to point the scope, choose one of the smart models below instead.
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope: Best for automated deep-sky imaging
- App-controlled GoTo and tracking
- Dual-camera imaging
- One-tap capture and processing
- Built-in light-pollution filters
This smart telescope finds and tracks celestial targets through app control, then captures images. It is designed for deep-sky and wide-field imaging, not planetary observation.
Pros
- Automatic GoTo and tracking
- App-based imaging
- Built-in light-pollution filters
Cons
- Not intended for planetary observation
- Imaging requires the device to stay stationary
The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is the clearest fit here for automatic target finding combined with app-based imaging. It finds and tracks celestial objects through GoTo control, then lets you view and capture images from a phone or tablet.
Its imaging-first design includes built-in light-pollution filters, dual-camera imaging and automatic mosaic stitching. ZWO says it is designed for deep-sky objects and is not intended for planetary observation, so choose another type if eyepiece views of planets are your main goal.
Keep the unit stationary during deep-sky imaging for stable tracking. If you want more options for phone-based viewing, compare our best smart telescopes for astronomy.
Gskyer Telescope: Best for a simple travel scope
- 70mm refractor
- Altazimuth mount
- Phone adapter and wireless remote
- Carry bag
A compact manual refractor with a carry bag and phone accessories. It can suit casual Moon and sky viewing, though you must locate targets yourself.
Pros
- Travel-friendly carry bag
- Phone adapter and remote
- Simple manual altazimuth mount
Cons
- Manual target finding
- 70mm aperture
The Gskyer is a lightweight refractor package for buyers who want a simple manual telescope and accessories for phone photography. It has a 70mm aperture, a 400mm focal length, an altazimuth mount, a phone adapter and a wireless camera remote.
It does not have automatic GoTo. The finder scope helps you aim, but you move the telescope by hand to find and center your target.
The carry bag makes the set easier to pack for trips, and the included eyepieces and Barlow lens offer different magnification options. Consider it for casual Moon viewing and travel rather than automated observing.
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone: Best for phone-guided visual observing
- 114mm Newtonian reflector
- Smartphone sky recognition
- On-screen target guidance
- Manual altazimuth mount
StarSense uses a phone app to guide you toward targets, which can make initial aiming easier. The mount remains manual, so it is phone-guided rather than a motorized GoTo system.
Pros
- 114mm reflector
- App-guided target finding
- Curated targets based on time and location
Cons
- Manual mount
- Requires a compatible smartphone
The StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ is a strong choice if you want phone guidance while still looking through a telescope eyepiece. Its app analyzes star patterns and gives on-screen arrows toward selected targets, including a list of objects based on your time and location.
This is phone-guided manual aiming, not motorized GoTo. You move the altazimuth mount yourself and use its altitude slow-motion adjustment to keep the target in view.
The 114mm reflector is designed for lunar, planetary and deep-sky viewing. Read our guide to the best telescope for phone camera if capturing images with your phone matters more than app-based pointing.
MEEZAA Telescope: Best for a larger manual reflector
- 150mm Newtonian reflector
- German equatorial mount
- Slow-motion controls
- Phone adapter and Moon filter
A 150mm reflector with manual equatorial controls for buyers who want a larger aperture and are willing to aim and track by hand. It is not an automatic GoTo telescope.
Pros
- 150mm aperture
- Slow-motion tracking controls
- Includes Moon filter
Cons
- Manual target finding
- Equatorial setup needs practice
MEEZAA's 150EQ is a larger manual reflector with an equatorial mount, slow-motion controls and a 150mm aperture. It suits buyers who want a larger mirror and are ready to learn a manual aiming and tracking routine.
The equatorial mount tracks manually through its control knobs, rather than moving automatically to a chosen target. The kit includes 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, a 2x Barlow lens, a Moon filter, a phone adapter and a carry bag.
This is a conventional telescope rather than a computer-guided model. Pick it for manual observing with a larger aperture, and consider a smart telescope if automatic target selection is the priority.
Koolpte Telescope for Adults & Beginner Astronomers: Best for phone-assisted snapshots
- 80mm refractor
- Altazimuth mount
- Phone adapter and wireless remote
- Carry bag
This manual refractor pairs a phone adapter with a wireless remote for casual image capture. It does not provide automated target finding or tracking.
Pros
- 80mm aperture
- Phone adapter and remote
- No-tool setup
Cons
- Manual target finding
- No automated tracking
Koolpte's 80mm refractor combines an altazimuth mount with a phone adapter and wireless remote. That makes it a manual telescope with phone capture accessories, not a GoTo scope.
The kit includes 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, a 3x Barlow lens and a 5x24 finder scope. Use the finder to help aim the telescope, then move the mount yourself to center an object.
Choose it if simple setup and casual phone snapshots matter more than automation. For a computer-controlled setup that sends images to a larger screen, see our guide to telescopes that connect to a laptop.
DWARFLAB Dwarf Mini Smart Telescope: Best for lightweight automated imaging
- App control with built-in sky atlas
- Automatic GoTo and tracking
- 360-degree pivot
- Equatorial mode and long exposures
A compact smart telescope offers app-based target selection, automatic GoTo and tracking, and an equatorial mode for imaging. Its small, portable design suits buyers who want an all-in-one camera telescope.
Pros
- 1.85 lb weight
- Automatic GoTo and tracking
- Built-in sky atlas
Cons
- Imaging-focused design
- App required for target selection
The DWARFLAB Dwarf Mini is a compact smart telescope with app control, a built-in sky atlas and automatic GoTo. Select a target in the app and the telescope can point and track it, with equatorial mode and long exposures available for deep-sky imaging.
At 1.85 lb, it is the lighter smart option in this roundup. Its app also includes cloud processing and a sky map, while the built-in filter features are aimed at imaging under light-polluted conditions.
Choose it if portability and automated imaging are more important than viewing through an eyepiece. The Seestar S30 Pro is another app-controlled option with a wider set of imaging features.
How does a GoTo telescope differ from phone guidance?
A motorized GoTo telescope moves the mount toward a selected target after you align it, while a phone-guided scope tells you where to aim by hand. That difference affects setup, observing style and how much control you have over each movement.
For visual observing, an app-guided model can make it easier to learn where objects are without adding motors. A Dobsonian reflector telescope is another manual visual option.
A full GoTo system reduces manual searching, though it still needs a suitable alignment and clear power and setup instructions.
Smart telescopes take automation further by combining target selection, tracking and imaging in one app-based system. See how do smart telescopes work for a closer look at their control and capture process.
What should you check before choosing a GoTo telescope?
Check the control method, intended use and setup steps before choosing a GoTo telescope. A phone app may guide your hand, control a motorized mount, or operate an imaging telescope, and those experiences are not interchangeable.
First, decide whether you want eyepiece views or images on a screen. Traditional reflectors and refractors here support visual observing, while the ZWO and DWARFLAB models are smart imaging scopes.
Next, check how the mount points and tracks. Manual altazimuth mounts move up, down and across the sky by hand; equatorial mounts need a different setup and tracking approach; motorized GoTo systems automate target movement after alignment.
Finally, consider portability, power, phone compatibility and the objects you want to observe. A small smart scope is easy to carry, while a larger reflector offers a different visual setup but requires more room and manual effort.
Which GoTo telescope should you choose?
Choose the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro if you want an app-controlled telescope that automatically locates targets and captures deep-sky images. Pick the DWARFLAB Dwarf Mini for a compact automated imaging setup, or the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ if you want phone guidance for manual eyepiece observing.
If learning to point and track by hand is part of your goal, the AstroMaster 130EQ and MEEZAA 150EQ offer manual equatorial mounts. For anyone comparing phone-based imaging options, start with our best smart telescopes for astronomy guide.
Our score weighs each telescope's features and fit for people searching for easier target finding. The key buying choice is whether you want the mount to move automatically, an app to guide your manual aim, or a traditional scope with no electronic guidance.
Our top 3 picks at a glance
-
1
Best for learning manual tracking
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Telescope for Deep-Sky Beginners
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for a portable manual setup
Hawkko 90mm Aperture 900mm Telescope for Adults
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for automated deep-sky imaging
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope
9.7/10 our score
See it on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
What does GoTo mean on a telescope?
GoTo means a telescope uses a motorized mount and control system to point toward selected sky targets. Many systems need an alignment step first, then use the handset or app to move the telescope.
Phone-guided scopes can help you aim but still rely on your hand to move the mount.
Are app-guided telescopes the same as GoTo telescopes?
No. An app-guided telescope such as the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ uses your phone to show where to aim, while you move its manual mount yourself.
A motorized GoTo system moves the telescope toward the selected target.
Check which type of control a scope uses before buying.
Can a GoTo telescope take pictures?
Some GoTo telescopes are designed for imaging, while others mainly help you find objects for visual observing. The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro and DWARFLAB Dwarf Mini pair automatic targeting with app-based image capture.
For a wider comparison, see our best telescope with a camera guide.
Do GoTo telescopes work in cities?
A GoTo system can help point at targets, but it does not remove light pollution from the sky. Smart imaging scopes may include filters or processing features that help with city observing.
Look at the scope's intended use and imaging features, and read how smart telescopes work before deciding.
